Life on the High Plains

We recently went camping in Southern Colorado at Lathrop State Park.  It was recently named the best state park in Colorado so we had to go check it out for ourselves.  I was a little skeptical, but I was soon won over. It's located near the Spanish Peaks, or Huajatolla (meaning breasts of the earth in the Comanche language).  The peaks are 12 and 13 thousand feet high. It was cold and cloudy during our entire stay, but on the first day we were able to get out for a hike that had been labeled "easy" in AllTrails. It started out easy, but as the elevation rose we found ourselves climbing through boulder fields. Eventually we made it to the top of the hogback ridge.  Stunning views! The dogs were real troopers especially our little old lady. The campground was nearly empty.  That's our trailer on the fair left side.  Nice site secluded by many pinon trees. The park has three ponds that can be used for fishing and boating.  Since the highs were only in th...

 The Great Blue Herons are back at one of my favorite walking areas, Fountain Creek!  There is actually a rookery with 13 nests that are occupied this time of year.  It's an amazing sight to see one of them flyover. This one was just standing in the spillway scooping up fish as they flowed over. Okay, maybe Canadian Geese aren't quite as majestic, but they deserved a photo. Beautiful shot of one of the ponds. The little snowfall we recently received actually put some water into Fountain Creek. Our big guy was still there on our return trip.   What a special treat!

When I found out we were going to Milan for the Olympics this past February I knew there was a piece of artwork I would have to see while there.  Immediately I went to the Leonardo Last Supper Museum website to purchase tickets.  I was immediately disheartened because all the tickets during our stay were already sold out (not surprising).  Then I noticed that they let tour groups bring visitors in so I booked a tour for all seven of us. The Santa Maria delle Grazie was the last stop on the tour.  First you have to check all your large size belongings into a locker.  Then you go wait at the door to the chapel for your appointed time to enter.  There were a couple "holding" areas prior to entering the room where the painting is located.  The final holding area was a glass encased hall loaded with all kinds of cameras and security devices.  When it's your time the doors automatically open and you enter the refectory. My first impression was that it w...

Today is my last day in the desert before I head home to Colorado.  I wanted to share one more incredible place I visited during my stay here. The Boyce Thompson Arboretum is located near the town of Superior, Arizona.  It's a bit of a drive to get there, but it is so worth it! Lots of these warning signs located throughout the property and believe me, I kept my eyes on the trail.  I'm fairly used to that because we have rattlers on our property at home.  On this day there were also warning signs for extreme heat as it was supposed to reach 100 degrees.  I got there as soon as it opened and it wasn't too bad at all. The arboretum was founded by Colonel William Boyce Thompson, a mining magnate, in 1924.  His mission was to show that desert plants could be cultivated for food and conservation. It's comprised of 135 acres of desert plants from around the world. The trails and grounds are beautifully maintained by what looked like an army of volunteers. Who els...

I'm spending some time in the Arizona desert with my daughter and her family this week.  While they're all at work or school I've been exploring some of the trails located in the midst of the city. Yesterday I wandered over to the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch in Gilbert.  The preserve was created in 1999 by the city of Gilbert to combine water resources, wildlife habitat, educational programs and recreational opportunities.  It covers 110 acres including 70 acres of seven water basins. I was there to explore some of its 4.5 miles of trails.  I'm always amazed to find water and lush vegetation in the middle of the desert. The parking lot was full when I arrived so I circled the lot for awhile before I noticed a small sign that said additional parking was available at the library that was only a block away.  The trails were beautifully maintained and despite being in the midst of a metropolitan city I didn't encounter too many people. I didn't make it by all t...